Implications for practice and research

As an effective and acceptable technique, warm compress should be a standard part of second stage perineal care.

‘Hands off’ technique, involving no routine hand manoeuvres to flex the fetal head or guard the perineum, may reduce the incidence of episiotomy.

Perineal massage during second stage may reduce severe trauma, however, acceptability to women should be further evaluated.

Context

Early historical records have shown that reducing perineal trauma during childbirth is of interest to both women and health professionals.1 Perineal trauma has been reported to affect around 85% of women giving birth,2 however, not all these women …

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